Craving a vacation vibe? Bring the lush jungle aesthetic home with tropical indoor plants! Learn care tips and discover how to bring new plants into your home the right way.
As a seasoned gardener and enthusiast of all things green, I’ve spent years nurturing an array of houseplants, each with its unique requirements and charm. And I’ve been growing them for so long that I’ve more propagated plants of the same houseplants that are easy and fun to grow but getting a little boring.
Recently, I refreshed my indoor garden with some new additions, each selected for its distinct beauty and the dynamic presence they bring to my home. I ordered them all online to learn about their quality and see how they do!
So today, I’m also how to bring new plants into your home so they have a seamless transition. We’ll delve into the specifics of their care, focusing on their light conditions and watering needs, to ensure they thrive.
Some of these tropical indoor plants I’ve grown before and others are totally new to me! Wait until you see my new plant babies!
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How to Bring the Tropics Inside Your Home
Bringing the lush, vibrant essence of the tropics into your home through indoor gardening is a great way to transform your living space into a green sanctuary. Tropical plants, with their incredible foliage and unique forms, can create a serene and invigorating environment.
However, to ensure these exotic beauties thrive, it’s important to replicate their natural habitat as closely as possible. Here’s how to cater to the needs of tropical indoor plants and ways to boost humidity levels, to help ensure your tropical oasis flourishes indoors.
Understanding Tropical Indoor Plant Needs
Tropical plants originate from environments that are warm, moist, and shaded by larger trees, which means they are accustomed to diffused sunlight, high humidity, and steady temperatures. In our homes, mimicking these conditions can encourage healthy growth and vibrant displays.
Because I live in New Jersey, we have long cold, dark winters. So there is much less daylight and dry indoor air. This can affect fussier plants greatly, which is why I haven’t always had the greatest success growing certain plants (fiddle leaf fig, I’m looking at you!)
In my former home, the dry indoor air and lack of natural light were a detriment for several common house plants. Plants that needed more than my home environment could give just didn’t thrive. Since moving, my home and light conditions have been vastly different, so it’s time to try something new!
Whenever you bring new plants home, it’s really important to read up on their care so you give them the best start to acclimating to life in your home.
Light Requirements for Tropical Indoor Plants
Most tropical plants prefer bright, indirect light that simulates the dappled sunlight of their native forests. Place them near windows where they can receive filtered sunlight or use sheer curtains to soften direct sun exposure, protecting their delicate leaves from scorching.
Houseplant Humidity Essentials
Humidity is perhaps the most critical factor in creating a tropical haven indoors. These plants thrive in high-humidity environments, a stark contrast to the dry air found in many homes, especially during winter. Here are effective ways to increase indoor humidity:
- Humidifiers: A humidifier is one of the most efficient ways to boost humidity levels in your home, providing constant moisture that benefits tropical plants immensely.
- Pebble Trays: Fill a tray with pebbles and water, placing your plant pots on top. As the water evaporates, it increases the moisture around your plants.
- Grouping Plants: Placing tropical plants close together creates a microclimate with higher humidity, as they release moisture through transpiration.
- Misting: Regularly misting your plants with water can help increase humidity, but it’s more of a temporary solution. For plants that need high humidity, misting several times a day may be necessary.
- Bathroom Living: If you have a bathroom with natural light, consider placing some tropical plants there. The naturally higher humidity from showers can create an ideal environment for humidity-loving plants.
Temperature and Air Circulation
Tropical indoor plants generally prefer temperatures between 65-85°F and benefit from gentle air circulation. Avoid placing them near cold drafts or heat sources, which can cause stress. A gentle fan can provide adequate air movement, simulating the natural breezes of their tropical homes.
Soil and Watering
Use a well-draining, peat-based potting mix to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Tropical plants usually require consistent moisture, so check the soil regularly and water once the top inch feels dry to the touch.
By attentively replicating the warm, humid, and softly lit conditions of the tropics, you can create a thriving indoor garden that brings the beauty and tranquility of a tropical paradise into your home. Not only will these plants enrich your living space with their exotic allure, but they will also purify the air and elevate your mood, making your home a true oasis.
How to Introduce and Acclimate New Plants to Your Home
Introducing new plants to your home is much like welcoming a new friend into your life: it requires patience, understanding, and a bit of effort to ensure they feel comfortable and thrive in their new environment.
Acclimating new plants to your home is a critical step in their care, helping them adjust from the greenhouse or nursery conditions to the unique climate of your indoor space. Here’s how to smoothly transition your new green companions into their new habitat.
Not to mention, if you have other plants in your care you want to protect them from anything that could potentially come home with your new plant babies.
Step 1: Gradual Introduction
Before bringing a new plant home, inspect it for pests and diseases to prevent spreading to your other plants. A short quarantine period can also be beneficial, especially if you have a large collection of plants at home.
If you ordered your plants online, really inspect them before you bring it around your other plants. And keep in mind that it went from a greenhouse to traveling, to your home so it may go through a period of shock before it rebounds.
Plants often come from environments with controlled lighting, and sudden exposure to different light levels can stress them. Gradually introduce your plant to its new lighting conditions by placing it in a lower-light area and gradually moving it to its ideal spot over a week or two. This gradual transition helps the plant adjust without experiencing shock.
Step 2: Humidity and Temperature
If your new plant comes from a humid greenhouse, the dry air in your home might be a shock. Use a humidifier, pebble trays, or group plants together to increase humidity around the new addition.
Ensure the plant’s new spot maintains a consistent temperature that mimics its preferred growing conditions. Avoid placing plants near drafts, heaters, or air conditioning units to prevent stress from temperature fluctuations.
Step 3: Watering and Feeding
Initially, water the plant according to the nursery’s recommendations or research its specific needs. The watering frequency might need to be adjusted as the plant acclimates to your home’s conditions. Always check the soil moisture before watering to avoid overwatering.
Wait to fertilize until the plant has acclimated to your home, usually about a month after introduction. This gives the plant time to adjust without the added stress of processing nutrients.
Step 4: Repotting
If your plant needs to be repotted, give it some time to adjust before doing so. Repotting immediately can add to the stress of a new environment. Waiting a few weeks allows the plant to acclimate and strengthens it for the repotting process.
When repotting, select a pot that is slightly larger than the current one, with good drainage. Use a potting mix suited to the plant’s specific needs, which can provide a comfortable and nurturing environment for its roots.
Keep in mind, you don’t HAVE to repot the plant. It is perfectly okay to keep in the nursery pot if it’s happy and not completely rootbound.
Step 5: Observation and Adjustment
Keep a close eye on your new plant for signs of stress, such as drooping leaves, discoloration, or pests. These signs can inform you if the plant needs adjustments in lighting, watering, or humidity.
Some plants take longer to acclimate than others. Show patience as they adjust, and try not to make too many changes at once, as this can cause further stress.
By carefully introducing and acclimating new plants to your home, you’re setting the stage for their health and growth. It’s a process that not only helps the plants but also deepens your connection with them, as you learn to read their signals and meet their needs. Welcome your new plants with care, and they’ll reward you with beauty, purification, and the joy of gardening indoors.
10 New Tropical Indoor Plants to Love
Living in a home blessed with an abundance of big windows that bathe my space in natural light, I’ve been inspired to revisit some of the houseplants I’ve struggled with in the past.
The generous sunlight streaming through these large windows creates a significantly different indoor growing environment, one that I believe will be much more conducive to the thriving of plants like the Pink Princess Philodendron, Alocasia, and the Fiddle Leaf Fig, among others.
This natural light, I’m hopeful, will be the key difference that turns past failures into flourishing successes. With this renewed optimism, I’m excited to give these beauties another chance, carefully monitoring their light exposure and adjusting their positions to ensure they receive just the right amount of indirect sunlight.
It’s a new chapter in my gardening journey, one filled with the promise of lush, vibrant growth thanks to the transformative power of my home’s natural light. And I have to admit that the plants look a bit moody but I love it!
Here’s what I’m growing!
1. Pink Princess Philodendron
This stunning plant is known for its beautiful pink variegation on dark green leaves. Pink princess philodendron prefers bright, indirect sunlight. Too much direct sun can fade its vibrant colors, while too little light can reduce the variegation. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. And allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again.
I’ve never grown this one before but have been eyeing it for quite some time. So far, she’s acclimating well and enjoying a prime location in my sunroom. I ordered this plant online and was thrilled to see the condition it arrived in. No bugs, roots, and foliage looked healthy, and I would order from the same online retailer again.
Pink Princess Philodendron arrived in great condition. No pests or diseases and roots look really healthy.
2. Alocasia
Alocasia plants, with their large, arrow-shaped leaves, are a bold statement. They thrive in bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light conditions. However, their dramatic foliage is best maintained with ample light. These plants like humidity and evenly moist soil. Water them once the top inch of soil feels dry, avoiding soggy conditions to prevent root rot.
I have not had the best luck with alocasia plants in the past but I am up for the challenge! The last time I tried to grow this was way back when Chris and I lived in our condo, which was well over 25 years ago. It didn’t do well because I’m pretty sure I overwatered it. This too will reside in the sunroom and will hopefully do well! Fingers crossed I find more success with this one.
The plant arrived in great condition with healthy foliage and a root system that was free from pests and disease.
3. Variegated Alocasia ‘Dawn’
A rare and beautiful variant, Alocasia Dawn requires a bit more care to maintain its variegation. Bright, indirect light is ideal to enhance its variegation without causing leaf burn. Similar to other alocasias, it prefers evenly moist soil and high humidity. Ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogged roots.
So far, I have not found this one to be as fussy as the paperwork that it arrived with. The plant is adjusting well and thriving in the sunroom. I have been keeping the soil more on the moist side but not overdoing it. The variegation in the foliage is stunning and I would order from this online grower again.
Stunning foliage with great easy-to-follow care instructions. The plant arrived well packaged, pest and disease free with a healthy root system.
4. Monstera Constellation
This variegated Monstera is coveted for its unique leaf patterns. It enjoys bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can damage the leaves, while too little light can slow their growth and reduce variegation. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out before watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure good drainage.
Monstera Constellation plants can get very expensive and I have not found smaller ones local to me so I purchased this one online. It was a little smaller than I was expecting but the grower took great care shipping it. I’m hoping it will take off and thrive once I get it outside in May for the summer. I’ll keep you posted on this one.
The plant received does not look like the image from the grower because it is a small plant. I was expecting something a bit larger but am happy with the overall quality of the plant and look forward to watching it grow.
5. Chinese Evergreen with Pink Tips
An easy-care plant that adds a pop of color, the Chinese evergreen is adaptable but prefers low to medium, indirect sunlight. Harsh direct sunlight can scorch its leaves. Keep the soil lightly moist, and allow the top inch to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can cause root issues.
This plant was in amazing condition when it arrived and I would 100% order it again. Super easy to grow, adapts to different light conditions, the roots and foliage are very healthy and the plant is gorgeous!
Gorgeous foliage! Plant arrived really healthy, pest and disease free with healthy root system.
6. Fiddle Leaf Fig
Famous for its large, glossy leaves, the fiddle leaf fig prefers bright, indirect light. It can tolerate some morning sun but avoid harsh afternoon rays. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. They don’t like overly wet or dry conditions. Use well-draining soil to help manage moisture.
Much like the alocasia, I have not had the best luck with the fiddle leaf fig. They can be a little temperamental as they need the right amount of light and moisture. I don’t think my former home had the best conditions for this plant so I decided to give it a whirl again here. So far so good, she is thriving in my family room by a huge south-facing window that gets a lot of light.
The plant arrived healthy, vibrant with a great root system. It is pest and disease free. Happy with this grower.
7. ZZ Plant ‘Raven’
Known for its striking, dark foliage, the zz plant thrives in low to bright indirect light, showcasing its versatility. It’s drought tolerant, requiring water only when the soil has dried out completely. Less is more with this resilient plant.
I am already growing a ZZ plant but really wanted this variety with the darker foliage. It is so easy to care for and is loving the spot near my fiddle leaf fig in the family room.
Easy to grow plant with gorgeous dark foliage arrived in great condition with healthy root system, pest and disease free
8. Umbrella Plant (Ficus)
With its glossy leaves and dense growth, it’s a lively addition. Bright, indirect light is best, though it can adapt to lower light levels. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Allow the top inch to dry out before watering again.
I’ve never tried growing this plant before. When Chris and I were shopping at Home Depot not too long ago, they got a shipment in from Proven Winners and I decided to snag one. Home Depot plants were in pretty good condition and looked like they just arrived so I figured if I was buying one, I should do it then.
9. Rubber Plant
The rubber plant is as sturdy as it is attractive. Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light conditions. Let the top few inches of soil dry out between waterings. Overwatering can lead to leaf drop and root rot.
The rubber plant is the first plant I ever grew and killed. Way back in the condo, I overwatered it and wasn’t giving it the proper light conditions. She is blissfully residing in my sunroom among all the other tropical indoor plants.
Gorgeous foliage on a healthy plant. Arrived in great condition with healthy root system.
10. Bird of Paradise
The bird of paradise plant brings a tropical vibe with its large, lush leaves. Bright, indirect sunlight is ideal. It can tolerate direct sunlight, especially if acclimated gradually. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. They prefer a bit more water during the growing season and less in the winter.
I had a bird of paradise for several years when we lived in my former home. Every year, my husband would help me lug it outdoors so it could summer on our deck. It grew so large and so heavy that we couldn’t bring it in again so that was that. I have a little more room here, so I’m adding it back among my new favorite indoor tropical plants
Incorporating these plants into my home has not only revitalized my space but also expanded my gardening repertoire. Each plant, with its unique needs and characteristics, reminds us of the diversity and beauty of nature. As gardeners, we continue to learn and grow alongside our plants, fostering an environment where both can flourish.
Plant is tall and gorgeous - arrived well packaged and protected from the cold. Has a healthy root system and is pest and disease free
More About Growing Tropical Indoor Plants
What is your favorite tropical indoor plant? I would love to know more in the comments below.
Happy Gardening!
